Highgear : TrailAudio 512

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Product Info

The Highgear Trail Audio turns up the volume on your training. There's nothing like running with your favorite tunes to help you to pick up the pace. This reliable MP3 player plugs right into your computer to download the music of your choice. Easy to follow instructions will have you loading up this MP3 player with rockin' tunes, or mellow numbers, in no time. Its durable casing can withstand impact and is weather resistant. A carabiner clip holds this mini-boombox to your belt loops or pack straps for instant access. As a bonus, the Trail Audio uses one standard AAA battery so you always have your personal soundtrack playing in your ear.

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More Details

Overall: 60%

Function: 60%

Presentation: 60%

Value: 80%

MSRP ($): 140

Chris's Review

2 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Summary:

In the age of the iPod Nano, all mp3 players are judged by their size, and the TrailAudio defintely comes in on the large size - however, there are several features that hold some sway for the action-sport enthusiast.

Review:
Highgear has a solid mp3 player with the TrailAudio 512. With 512 megs of memory, the player can hold plenty of music for a few day's worth of riding, but is little small for longer trips. The shell is durable, and everything has rubber weather-seals to keep moisture out.

Unlike Apple's famous mp3 players, the TrailAudio runs on a AAA battery, meaning that all you need is a convenience store that sells batteries to get your player playing. The display is acceptable, but shows only the most basic of information. Riders accustomed to, or expecting a color display like a modern iPod will be severely disappointed. The flip side is that a small display requires much less power, helping the TrailAudio to survive on the same battery for long periods of time.

I like the caribiner clip, and the unit seems pretty water resistant, but wearing it on a belt-loop while snowboarding makes me a little nervous- like putting a hundred dollar bill on a table in the breeze and hoping it doesn't fly away. The benefit is obvious though, unlike a md-player designed to be kept in your pocket, you can see the display and change tracks without any unzipping.

All in all, the TrailAudio is a promising unit, and I hope that Highgear continues to develop their action-sports mp3 players. We certainly need more rubberized, water-resistant electronics, and with a little bit of tweaking, and bit of catch-up work, the TrailAudio could be a real contender.

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